Patterned composite material

ABSTRACT

A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material adapted to be gathered in at least one direction with at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip members individually applied to the sheet material in a stretched secured condition so that the sheet material connects the strip members. The strip members are so arranged on the sheet material that two strip members are positioned in line and spaced apart to form a space therebetween, with at least one strip member being positioned in a spaced distance to the side of the center axis of said two in line strip members. The elastic strip members are constructed to return to substantially their original dimensions after being stretched to carry the sheet material into a gathered configuration so that the plurality of elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on the sheet material with the areas of the sheet material opposite the elastic strip members being gathered by the constrictive action of the plurality of elastic members and the adjacent areas to the elastic member secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite the elastic members.

United States Patent 91 Taylor [4 1 Apr. 17, 1973 [5 PATTERNED COMPOSITEMATERIAL [75] Inventor: Louis N. Taylor, North Miami Beach, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Lou Taylor, lnc., Hialeah, Fla.

[22] Filed: May 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 148,111

[52] [1.8. Cl. ..16l/39, 150/28, 156/160,

156/229, 161/40, 161/116, 161/145 [51] Int. Cl ..B32b 3/16, B32b 3/00[58] Field of Search ..156/l60, 161, 163,

156/164; 161/39, 50, 76, 77, 73, 132, 74, 78, 128, 129, 142, 143, 145,156; ISO/28.32

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,905,581 9/1959 Maxey..156/163 2,122,251 11/1937 Hartmann t ..l56/163 X 2,622,648 '3/1951Ingram ..l50/28 2,502,772 4/1950 Winstead... "156/163 3,468,748 9/1969Bassett ..16l/156 X Primary Examiner-William .1. Van BalenAssistantExaminer-Paul Thibodeau Attorney-Fleit, Gipple & Jacobson 57ABSTRACT A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheetmaterial adapted to be gathered in at least one direction with at leastthree rectangularly shaped elastic strip members individually applied tothe sheet material in a stretched secured condition so that the sheetmaterial connects the strip members. The strip members are so arrangedon the sheet material that two strip members are positioned in line andspaced apart to form a space therebetween, with at least one stripmember being positioned in a spaced distance to the side of the centeraxis of said two in line strip members. The elastic strip members areconstructed to return to substantially their original dimensions afterbeing stretched to carry the sheet material into a gatheredconfiguration so that the plurality of elastic strip members forms agathered composite pattern on the sheet material with the areas of thesheet material opposite the elastic strip members being gathered by theconstrictive action of the plurality of elastic members and the adjacentareas to the elastic member secured areas being slightly depressed inrelation to the plane of the areas opposite the elastic members.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATEN TEB APR 1 7 [973 SHEET 1 UF 2 fFig.2'

Louis f y INVENTOR PATENTEDAPR1 Y sum 2 [1F 2 I Lou/'5 y INVENTORVPATTERNED COMPOSITE MATERIAL The present invention generally relates toa patterned composite material and more specifically to a the surface ofthe material from a standard relatively planar surface to an irregularundulating, alternately raised and lowered surface, creating anattractive and unique appearance. The above-mentioned material isespecially conducive to the manufacture of purses, in that theeconomical, decorative material is easily apv plied to the purse body toprovide a handsome, contoured appearance.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the embodiments of the invention as shown inthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of the basematerial before it hasbeen processed. 7

FIG. 2 shows the application of stretched elastic members to the back ofthe base material shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back of the base material of FIG. 2 afterthe elastic members havebeen allowed to resume a relaxed position.

. FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base material shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a purse made from the composite materialshown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, a piece ofbase material of a vinyl composition is used, although plastic materialsor fabrics of a natural or synthetic composition can be substituted.While the base material 10, as shown, is of a single layer, it should benoted that the material can be a composite of several different layersof material comprising any desired combination. However, the basematerial used is preferably relatively unstretchable. The base material10 is preferably carried by a base or a supply roller, not shown, and isremoved from the roller and placed on a processing area. An elastic webfrom a separate supply roller is preferably cut into a plurality ofelastic members 12 having an approximately two-inch squareconfiguration. The elastic web can be made of any elastic materialprovided the elastic materialhas sufficient elasticity to return to itsoriginal configuration after the elongating stresses are relieved.

The advantage of using a plurality of separate elastic members 12 ofsmall size with the base material 10 is i that a tougher compositematerial is created with the elimination of puffing" which occurs when alarge elastic web is used.

The square elastic members are then stretched approximately 1 inch, orto a set desired distance, depending upon the elasticity of the elasticmaterial used and the nature of the base material 10. Adhesive is thenapplied to the elastic members. The elastic members are secured to theback of the base material 10 at spaced apart intervals of approximately1 inch. The elastic members can be overlapped or preferably positionedadjacent each other in staggered relation such as that shown in FIG. 3.i

In the preferred embodiment, each of the elastic members is preferablystretched in substantially one direction. The stretched elastic members'12 are designated by the numeral 14. The pattern of the compositematerial 20 can be changed depending on whether the constrictivereaction of the elastic members 12 is in a lengthwise or crosswisedirection or a combination of both. Additional pattern changes can beprovided by the substitution of different geometric shapes and spacingsof the elastic members.

When the stretched elastic members 12, secured to the base material 10,return to their relaxed or normal configuration, the adhesively'securedbase material 10 is caused by the constrictive reaction of the elasticmembers 12 to gather and assume the corresponding position of therelaxed elastic members, as shown in FIG. 3. After the elastic members12 have relaxed, the front of the finished composite inventive material20 takes on a decorative patterned or contoured look, as shown in FIG.4. 1

As shown in FIG. 4, the gathered areas 16 of the base material form awrinkled, ridge-like appearance, while the adjacent areas 18, which are;not secured to the elastic members, take on a depressed configurationhaving a somewhat smoother appearance.

Alternatively, adhesive can be applied to the back of the material andthe elastic members placed thereon.

The gathered composite material 20 is then' run' through a rubberfast-roller press, or other suitable pressing means, under pressure sothat a permanencyin the adhesion of the bond betweenthe elastic members12 and the base material 10 is achieved, while, in addition,simultaneously crinkling or wrinkling the gathered material intosubstantially permanent patterns. The patterned composite material 20'isthen cut into pieces of various configurations. The cut pieces areplaced onto the skeleton or body of a purse or other suitable item andare sewn or glued to the skeleton or body to form the item desired, as,for example, the purse 22 shown in FIG. 5. The process is preferablydone in small-lot approach, because it is easier. to do pieces for theright size of the picket book or other small sized items. I

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itis understood that theinvention is not limited to such an embodimentsince it may be otherwise embodied in the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material,said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in at least onedirection, at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip membersindividually applied in a stretched condition and secured to said sheetmaterial, said sheet materialco nstituting the sole connecting meansbetween said strip members, said strip members being so arranged on saidsheet material that two strip members are positioned in line and spacedapart to form a space therebetween, at least one strip member beingpositioned a spaced distance to the side of the center axis of said twoin line strip members within said space, said elastic strip membersbeing constructed to return to substantially their original dimensionsafter being stretched, to carry said sheet material into a gatheredconfiguration so that said plurality of elastic strip members forms agathered composite pattern on said sheet material, said areas of saidsheet material opposite said elastic strip members being gathered by theconstrictive action of said plurality of elastic members with theadjacent areas to said elastic member secured areas being slightlydepressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite said elasticmembers.

2 A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidspace between said in line strip member is defined by the directlyopposing edges of said two strip members.

3. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidsheet material is substantially unstretchable.

4. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidrectangular elastic members are squares.

5. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim} wherein each ofthe square edges is substan' tially two inches in length.

6. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidstrip members are secured by adhesive to said sheet material and spacedapart from each opposite in line strip member at an interval ofsubstantially one inch.

7. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidsheet material comprises several different layers of material.

8. A patternedcomposite material as claimed in claim 7 wherein one ofsaid layers of said sheet material is plastic.

9, A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 8 wherein saidplastic layer is vinyl.

10. A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material,said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in atleast onedirection, at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip membersindividually applied in a stretched condition so that only two opposingedges of each strip member are directionally moved from each other, withsaid stretched strip members being secured to said sheet material, saidsheet material constituting the connecting means between said stripmembers, said strip members being so arranged on said sheet materialthat two strip members are positioned in line and spaced apart to form aspace therebetween, at least one strip member being positioned'a spaceddistance to the side of the center axis of said two in line stripmembers substantially adjacent said space, said elastic strip membersbeing constructed to return to substantially their original dimensionsafter being stretched, to carry said sheet material into a gatheredconfiguration so that said plurality of elastic strip members forms agathered composite pattern on said sheet material, said areas of saidsheet material opposite said elastic strip members being gathered by theconstrictive action of said plurality of elastic members with theadjacent areas to said elastic member secured areas being slightlydepressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite said elasticmembers.

11. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 10 wherein saidspace between said in line strip members is defined by the directlyopposing edges of said two strip members.

12. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 11 wherein saiddirectly opposing edges are substantially parallel.

13. A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material,said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in at least onedirection, at least four rectangularly shaped elastic strip membersindividually applied and secured to said sheet material in a stretchedcondition in a spaced substantially parallel configuration, said sheetmaterial constituting the sole connecting means between all of saidstrip members, two of said strip members being positioned in asubstantially vertical line and spaced apart to form a spacetherebetween and the other two strip members being positioned in asubstantially horizontal line and spaced apart from each other onopposite sides of the center axis of said vertically lined stripmembers, said elastic strip members being constructed to return tosubstantially their original dimensions after being stretched to carrysaid sheet material into a gathered configuration so that said pluralityof elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on saidsheet material, said areas of said sheet material opposite said elasticstrip members being gathered by the constrictive action of saidplurality of elastic members with the adjacent areas to said elasticmember secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the planeof the areas opposite said elastic members.

14. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidtwo other horizontally positioned strip members are placed to the sideof said vertical lined strip members so that the outer edge of saidvertical in line strip members is substantially parallel with the inneredge of said horizontally positioned strip members.

15. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidstrip members form a substantially cross-shape configuration.

16. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidtwo other horizontally positioned strip members are placed away from thecenter axis of said vertically lined strip members so that the inneredges of said horizontally positioned stripmembers falls within thespace formed by the outer edges of said vertical in line strip members.

17. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 16 wherein eachof said strip members engages at least an edge of two other stripmembers. 1

18. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidother two strip members are equally spaced apart from the center axis ofsaid vertically lined strip members.

2. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidspace between said in line strip member is defined by the directlyopposing edges of said two strip members.
 3. A patterned compositematerial as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet material issubstantially unstretchable.
 4. A patterned composite material asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said rectangular elastic members are squares.5. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 3 wherein each ofthe square edges is substantially two inches in length.
 6. A patternedcomposite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strip members aresecured by adhesive to said sheet material and spaced apart from eachopposite in line strip member at an interval of substantially one inch.7. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidsheet material comprises several different layers of material.
 8. Apatterned composite material as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of saidlayers of said sheet material is plastic.
 9. A patterned compositematerial as claimed in claim 8 wherein said plastic layer is vinyl. 10.A patterned composite material comprising a flexible sheet material,said sheet material being adapted to be gathered in at least onedirection, at least three rectangularly shaped elastic strip membersindividually applied in a stretched condition so that only two opposingedges of each strip member are directionally moved from each other, withsaid stretched strip members being secured to said sheet material, saidsheet material constituting the connecting means between said stripmembers, said strip members being so arranged on said sheet materialthat two strip members are positioned in line and spaced apart to form aspace therebetween, at least one strip member being positioned a spaceddistance to the side of the center axis of said two in line stripmembers substantially adjacent said space, said elastic strip membersbeing constructed to return to substantially their original dimensionsafter being stretched, to carry said sheet material into a gatheredconfiguration so that said plurality of elastic strip members forms agathered composite pattern on said sheet material, said areas of saidsheet material opposite said elastic strip members being gathered by theconstrictive action of said plurality of elastic members with theadjacent areas to said elastic member secured areas being slightlydepressed in relation to the plane of the areas opposite said elasticmembers.
 11. A patterned composite material as claimed in claim 10wherein said space between said in line strip members is defined by thedirectly opposing edges of said two strip members.
 12. A patternedcomposite material as claimed in claim 11 wherein said directly opposingedges are substantially parallel.
 13. A patterned composite materialcomprising a flexible sheet material, said sheet material being adaptedto be gAthered in at least one direction, at least four rectangularlyshaped elastic strip members individually applied and secured to saidsheet material in a stretched condition in a spaced substantiallyparallel configuration, said sheet material constituting the soleconnecting means between all of said strip members, two of said stripmembers being positioned in a substantially vertical line and spacedapart to form a space therebetween and the other two strip members beingpositioned in a substantially horizontal line and spaced apart from eachother on opposite sides of the center axis of said vertically linedstrip members, said elastic strip members being constructed to return tosubstantially their original dimensions after being stretched to carrysaid sheet material into a gathered configuration so that said pluralityof elastic strip members forms a gathered composite pattern on saidsheet material, said areas of said sheet material opposite said elasticstrip members being gathered by the constrictive action of saidplurality of elastic members with the adjacent areas to said elasticmember secured areas being slightly depressed in relation to the planeof the areas opposite said elastic members.
 14. A patterned compositematerial as claimed in claim 13 wherein said two other horizontallypositioned strip members are placed to the side of said vertical linedstrip members so that the outer edge of said vertical in line stripmembers is substantially parallel with the inner edge of saidhorizontally positioned strip members.
 15. A patterned compositematerial as claimed in claim 13 wherein said strip members form asubstantially cross-shape configuration.
 16. A patterned compositematerial as claimed in claim 13 wherein said two other horizontallypositioned strip members are placed away from the center axis of saidvertically lined strip members so that the inner edges of saidhorizontally positioned strip members falls within the space formed bythe outer edges of said vertical in line strip members.
 17. A patternedcomposite material as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said stripmembers engages at least an edge of two other strip members.
 18. Apatterned composite material as claimed in claim 13 wherein said othertwo strip members are equally spaced apart from the center axis of saidvertically lined strip members.